Form clamp



Nov. 25, 1930.

C. E. HUDGIN oma cLAMP Filed llay 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 25,1930 M w wmLv Emu Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECHARLES E. HUDGIN', OF CHICAGO, ILLILOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 SAMUEL E. LINGLE,OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS FORM CLAMP Application filed May 31,

This invention relates to a form clamp used for holding the walls ofconcreteforms in spaced relation.

Concrete walls arelusually made by pour- 3 ing con rete between formscomprising side walls held together in spaced relation by spacers andclamping devices. After the concrete has hardened the clamps arereleased and-the forms removed. It is not only desirable to have formsthat may be quickly assembled but it is also important to have formsthat may be equally as quickly knocked down and left in such shape thatthey can be used again. A desirable feature is to be able to assemblethese forms from the outside because the walls are sometimes too narrowto permit a worker to get between them conveniently. It is alsonecessary that the side walls be spaced accurately, that means be pro-P0 vided for spacing the forms at different distances apart to providefor difierent thicknesses of wall, that the clamps be readily removable,and that when they are removed the wall is left without any projectionssticking out of it and without any holes which would weaken or damage itor leave it so it is not water-proof. An important factor is cost, notonl the cost of the clamp itself but the cost of t 0 devices associatedwith it and the cost of assembly, it being well known that immensepressureis continually brought to bear in this age to reduce buildingcosts.

The present invention has been devised with the ob'ect in view ofovercoming the above diflicu ties by the provision of a simple,inexpensive form clamp that will permit easy assembly of concrete formsfrom the outside, that will enable the forms to be held rigidly inspacedrelation, that will enable easy disassembly of the forms, and that willleave the forms free for use again and the'wall undamaged.

Accordingly, the general object of the invention is to provide animproved form clamp for concrete walls.

Other objects and advantages of the nvention. will appear from thespecification and drawings.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich;

1929. Serial No. 367,421.

Figure 1 is a partial perspective and section of a concrete wall withthe forms applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a partial section through the wall of Fig. 1 illustrating theform clamps in cross-section and elevation to illustrate its parts inmore detail;

Fig. 3 is a partial section of a concrete wall showing its conditionwhen the forms have been taken away;

Fig. 4 is a partial section illustrating how the ends of the form clampscooperate with the walls of the form;

Fig. 5 is a separated perspective of portions of the form clamp.

The wall forms with which the clamp is to be used may be varied to suitthe requiremcnts but generally speaking they are of the type illustratedin Fig. 1. These forms comprise side walls 10 and 11 built of boardsheld together by vertical members 13 and 14, respectively. The lengthand height of these side walls can be varied, a contractor usuallyhaving a supply of various sizesrso that the side walls of differentsizes are available on quick notice. Instead of bearingdirectly againstthe side walls the form clamps bear against horizontal cross-members orWhalers 15 and 16 which abut the vertical members 13 and 14.. In theconstruction shown these Whalers are assembled in pairs and the portionsof the form clamps extend between them.

The form clamp includes a center tie rod 20 which spaces the form wallsapart. This tie rod remains in the concrete wall after the forms havebeen removed as illustrated in Fig. 3. It may vary in length dependingupon the thickness of walls desired.

Screw-threaded onto each end of the tie rod 20 are end rods 21 and 22which are preferably of larger diameter than the center tie rod. Theseend rods extend outwardly between the whalers 15 and 16 and clampingdevices are screw-threaded onto their outer ends. These clamping devicesinclude hearing plates 23 of such length that they may engage the twoWhalers through which the end rods project and abutting again-st theseplates are nuts 24 having handles 25 by means of which they may beturned readily.

It will be readily apparent that, in order to rigidly hold the walls inspaced relation, they must be prevented from moving inwardly. One of thechief diificulties heretofore encountered has been the provision of asimple, inexpensive device for holding the walls in spaced relationwhich device would permit the worker to assemble the forms from theoutside and which would permit ready removal of the forms withoutleaving large openings in the wall by virtue of the spacing device. Thisdifiiculty has been overcome in the present form'clamp by a novelconstruction which will now be explained.

Loosely fitting on the end rods 21 and 22 are flanged sleeves 26. Thesesleeves are preferably mounted in openings in the side walls of the formbefore the form clamps are inserted. The sleeves are mounted with theirflanges abutting the inner sides of the side wall and they fit snugly inthe openings in the side wall so that the will not drop out easily whilethe forms are being moved. The shanks of the sleeves extend out beyondthe outer sides of the side walls as illustrated clearly in Figs. 2 and4. When the form clamps are put in place they extend through the sleeveas illustrated in Fig. 2. The sleeves are provided with openingsor-slots 27 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 which may be brought into registerwith holes or openings 28 in the end rods to permit the insertion of afastening device 29 such as a nail or the like. When one of the nails isdropped in place its sleeve is prevented from moving longitudinallyrelative to its end rod. A limited amount of rotative movement of therods relative to the sleeves is permitted owing to the length of theslots 27.

It will be apparent that, when the parts are assembled as illustrated inFig. 2, a tightening, say the left-hand nut 24, will cause pressure tobe exerted on the corresponding plate 23 which will be transmittedthrough the Whalers 15 and 16 to the vertical members 13 of the sidewall 10. The side wall is moved inwardly until it engages the flange ofthe sleeve 26 whereupon its movement will be arrested and furthertightening of the nut 24 simply clamps the parts together in rigidposition. The same action takes place at both sides. The side walls arethus held rigidly in spaced relation.

The forms are assembled by first placing one of the side walls invertical position and bracing it and t 'en inserting the sleeves 26 init. The sleeve 26 are then put in the second side wall, preferablybefore it is raised. After the second Wall is raised," the form clamprods are placed in position as follows. First, one of the end rods isscrewed into the tie rod 21, the rods being proportioned so that thecorrect length for spacing the walls is secured by screwing the end rodinto the rod 21 as far as it will go. One of the end rods having beenscrewed onto the tie rod, the two rods are inserted through the sleevesin the two side walls from the outside of one of the side walls. Thesecond end rod is then screwed onto the rod after which the whalers areput in place and one of the plates 23 is slipped over the end rod and aclamp nut 2425 is screwed onto it. As the clamp nut 2425 is tightened,the side wall on the side where it is being tightened, is moved inwardlyand this movement is continued until the opening in the sleeve 26coincides with the opening in the end rod. When this occurs a nail orsimilar device is inserted into the registered openings. It will berecalled that these openings are on the outside of the wall so that thenail can be easily slipped in place. When this occurs further tighteningof the clamp nut 2425 clamps the side wall to the Whalers, and the wallis held rigidly to the whalers and the form clamp.

A clamp nut 24-25 is then screwed onto the opposite end rod, the whalersfor the other side having been put in place; and the other side wall ismoved in until the openings in the sleeve 26 of that wall coincides withthe opening in the end rod. A nail is dropped in place and the wallclamped to the whalers. It will be understood that the above operationsare repeated for each form clamp.

In this manner, the walls are held tightly and firmly in spaced relationand the assembly is accomplished by men working on the outside of thewalls. The Walls are held together in such a manner that they willwithstand heavy pressure such as may be exerted on them by wet concretepoured between them.

After the concrete between the side walls has hardened the clamp nuts2425 are loosened, the whalers removed, and the nails taken out of theopenings in which they were placed. The end rods can then be unscrewedfrom the tie rods leaving the side walls free to be removed. The tierods are left in the concrete as shown in Fig. 3, the holes in the sidesof the walls being subsequently filled with concrete which gets a goodanchorage in the threaded ends of the tie rods which project into theholes.

It is to be understood that the structure shown is for purposes ofillustration and that variations may be made in it without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A form clamp for holding Wall forms in spaced relation, comprising acenter tie rod, end rods removably secured to said center rod, flangedsleeves loosely fitting over said end rods, the flanges of said sleevesbeing adapted to engage the inner sides of said wall forms, means forreadily fastening said sleeves to said end rods on the outside of saidwall forms to prevent movement of the sleeves longitudinally of therods,'and adjustable clamping devices on the outer ends of said endrods.

2. A form clamp for holding wall forms in spaced relation comprising acenter tie rod, end rods removably secured to said tie rod, flangedsleeves loosely mountable on said end rods, said flanged sleeves beingadapted to project through the wall forms with the flanges engaging theinner sides of said forms, fastening devices for readily fastening saidsleeves to said end rods on the outside of said wall forms to therebyprevent movement of the sleeves longitudinally of the end rods, and

clamping devices mounted on the outer ends of said end rods for hearingagainst portions of said wall forins. I

3. A form clamp for holding wall forms in spaced relation comprising acenter tie rod, end ro screw-threaded onto the ends of said tie rod,flan ed sleeves loosely mountable on said and r0 s, said sleeves beingadapted to extend through openings .in the wall forms with the flangesengaging the inner sides of said forms, openings in said sleeves andsaid end rods whlch may be brought into registratiom outside of saidwall forms for the ready reception of a fastening device to preventlongitudinal movement of the sleeves relative to the end rods, andclamping devi((:1es mounted on the outer ends of the end ro s.

4. A form clamp for holding in spaced re lation forms having side wallsprovided with vertical members and horizontal Whalers, comprising acenter tie rod, and rods removably secured to said tie rod and adaptedto extend outside the side walls and between the Whalers, flangedsleeves mounted loosely on said end rods with the flanges abutting theinner sides of the side walls, fastening devices for fastening thesleeves to the end rods on the outside of the side walls to preventlongitudinal movement of the sleeves relative to the end rods, andclampin devices on the outer ends of the end rods or bearing against theWhalers.

- In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name CHARLES E. HUDGIN.

